WASHINGTON — House Republicans offered a mixed bag of bravado, deflection and creative accounting Thursday when asked about a potential $200 billion supplemental spending package to fund President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, now in its 20th day with no end in sight.
The conflict, launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28, has spread across at least a dozen countries, closed the Strait of Hormuz and killed more than 2,300 people. Iran ratcheted up pressure further Thursday, attacking energy facilities in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, threatening to send oil prices surging even more, and raising fresh fears about what the war will ultimately cost American taxpayers.
Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-MD), typically among the loudest voices for fiscal restraint, simply smiled and said nothing when approached by Raw Story — a telling silence from a congressman who has built his brand on opposing government spending.
Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-TX) wasn’t worried about the price tag. He told Raw Story he has a drawer full of potential offsets ready to go.
“I’ve got $600 billion on the list in my drawers, in my desk, and there’s probably three times that,” Arrington said, citing GAO and CBO estimates of up to $500 billion a year in government fraud and $180 billion in improper payments. “That’s eight weeks of gas and groceries for working people. Of course we have enough money to offset operating expenses.”
Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee, took the more cautious approach, declining to weigh in until something formal arrives from the White House.
“Nothing’s here yet, so I won’t comment until I see something,” he told Raw Story.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), a former Navy SEAL, threw fiscal concerns out the window entirely.
“The Iranian laws are responsible for killing thousands of American citizens, and everyone else’s lives are priceless. You start putting a price tag on Americans, I don’t have time for you,” the Wisconsin Republican said. “This needs to end.”
Van Orden said he’s not worried the war could become protracted, and invoked his military résumé.
“I know what I’m doing. I’m the longest serving enlisted guy to ever get elected to Congress in the history of this place. And I’ve participated in more campaigns than I think anybody in this place, and I’ve written campaign plans, and I’m not worried about that at all.”
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